Chapter 2 - Theoretical Approaches of Sex Studies Flashcards
1
Q
Scientific theory
A
- A framework that organizes knowledge from multiple observations and experimental evidence about a phenomenon so that the phenomenon can be better understood, explained, and studied
- In sexuality they are sets of tested and generally agreed upon conclusions or explanations about certain phenomena
- They help organize, correct, and generate knowledge
2
Q
Hypothesis
A
- A prediction, based on a theory, about the expected outcomes of a research study
- If … then statement
- Testing this will show if this prediction is correct or needs to be revised
3
Q
Freud’s psychodynamic theory
A
- Attempts to explain the conscious and unconscious psychological forces that underline human personality, motivation, and behaviour
- Dives into the id, ego, and superego
- Explains that personality formation is the result of the successful/not successful transition through specific stages in the first six years of a person’s life
4
Q
The id, ego, and superego
A
- Id: Represents unconscious and/or instinctual urges and desires
- Ego: Mediates between the realities of the outside world, the individual’s urges and desires, and the individual’s conscience
- Superego: The person’s internalized standards, which are based on social and parental learning
5
Q
Psychoanalysis
A
- Therapy conducted between a therapist and a client
- Goal of examining, correcting, and balancing any disruptions in the client’s personality
6
Q
Erogenous zone
A
- An area of the body with heightened sensitivity
7
Q
Libidinal energy
A
- Psychic energy associated with mental desires and drives
8
Q
Oral stage of development
A
- 0 to 2 years
- Erogenous zone: mouth
- Activities: Sucking, biting, chewing
9
Q
Anal stage of development
A
- 2 to 4 years
- Erogenous zone: anus
- Activities: bowel and bladder control
10
Q
Phallic stage of development
A
- 4 to 6 years
- Erogenous zone: genitals
- Activities: Masturbation
11
Q
Latency stage of development
A
- 6 years to puberty
- Erogenous zone: none
- Activities: repression of sexual feelings
12
Q
Genital stage of development
A
- Age: puberty onwards
- Erogenous zone: genitals
- Activities: sexual maturation
13
Q
Oedipus complex
A
- In boys
- Desire for the mother’s love coupled fears of retaliation from the father
- Happens in the phallic stage, when libidinal energy is focused on the genitals
14
Q
Electra complex
A
- In girls
- An attachment to the mother followed by a shift in attachment to the father as a way to resolve penis envy
- Basically girls have a crush on their dad and envy their moms
- Named by Carl Jung
15
Q
Penis envy
A
- Young girls experience anxiety upon realization that they do not have a penis
16
Q
Pros to the psychodynamic theory
A
- First theory to emphasize the importance of childhood personality in development
- Provided a therapeutic approach to help those with psychological problems
17
Q
Cons to the psychodymanic theory
A
- Overemphasis on sex, particularly sex from that male perspective
- Clinical data that is flawed
- Impossible to test the theory experimentally
- Damaging myths about more mature vaginal orgasm
18
Q
Classical conditioning
A
- Pavlov
- Process where an individual is repeatedly exposed to a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus at the same time until the neutral stimulus comes to elicit a response initially brought forth by the unconditioned stimulus
19
Q
How has classical conditioning been used in sex research and therapy
A
- Understand the development of some forms of compulsive sexual behaviours and fetishes
- Develop treatments for unwanted sexual behaviours. Ex: Every time someone is aroused by the unwanted fetish, he is made to smell ammonia salt, making him nauseous
20
Q
How was classical conditioning used to explain sexual orientation
A
- Daryl Bem’s theory “exotic becomes erotic”
- This theory supposes that sexual orientation is not innate but is learned
21
Q
Operant conditioning
A
- Process through which an individual’s behaviour is modified by its consequences or the reinforcement that they receive
- They get frequent rewards until the individual provides the desired behaviour
22
Q
Reinforcement
A
- Operant conditioning
- An individual will be more likely to repeat a behaviour when she or he is rewarded in some way
23
Q
Punishment
A
- Operant conditioning
- An individual will be less likely to repeat a behaviour when she or he is punished in some way
24
Q
Primary reinforcers
A
- Operant conditioning
- Sex and food are powerful because they are intrinsically rewarding
- Can be shaped by rewards and punishments
25
Q
Social learning theory
A
- Based on the notion that learning occurs through modelling observed behaviours
- Based on the principles of operant conditioning while incorporating social context and environmental factors
26
Q
Self-efficacy
A
- A person’s belief that she or he can competently perform a specific behaviour
27
Q
How does self-efficacy relate to sexual behaviour
A
- Young women with higher sexual self-efficacy tend to have better sexual adjustment
- The first sexual experience is significant and can either boost or lower sexual self-efficacy, affecting future sexual adjustment
- People with low sexual self-efficacy may avoid sexual experiences, reinforcing their negative beliefs and impairing their sexual response
28
Q
Social exchange theory
A
- Describes how people try to maximize rewards and minimize costs
29
Q
Four components of the social exchange theory
A
- Balancing of costs and rewards
- Equity/Equality
- Comparison level
- Comparison level for alternatives
30
Q
How does the social exchange theory apply to intimate relationships
A
- People want high reward low cost relationships
31
Q
Cognitive Theories
A
- Emphasize the importance of thought processes and how they influence behaviour
- Thoughts are subject to many kinds of distortions and false assumptions which results in all kinds of psychological distress
32
Q
How do cognitive theories explain a number of sexual problems
A
- Cognitive issue can lead to problems with having sex
- Ex: woman who think they should be able to easily climax from intercourse alone may suffer from feelings of inadequacy
- Could also explain dyspareunia
33
Q
Dyspareunia
A
- Genital and/or pelvic pain during or after sexual activity involving penetration
34
Q
Genetic Theory
A
- Looks at the role genes play in influencing behaviour
35
Q
How do genetics influence sexuality
A
- Hormones
- Reproductive cycles
- Genetic disorders
- Conception
- Sexual orientation
36
Q
Concordance rate
A
- The probability that two individuals will have the same trait, given that one individual has the trait
37
Q
Sociobiological theory
A
- A theory based on the idea that we behave in social situations is influenced by our biological makeup
- This has evolved over the history of our species
- The application of evolutionary biology to explain social behaviour
38
Q
Evolutionary biology
A
- The application of evolutionary theories to understand how species have adapted and changed over time
39
Q
Evolutionary psychology
A
- The application of evolutionary theories to understand emotional and psychological processes, mainly in humans
40
Q
Sexual selection
A
- The evolutionary process of mate selection, which can either be intrasexual or intersexual
41
Q
Intrasexual competition
A
- Competition between members of the same sex for access to breeding with members of the other sex
42
Q
Intersexual selection
A
- Preferentially picking one mater over others
43
Q
Sexual strategies theory
A
- The idea that human mating strategies have evolved to overcome mating problems faced by our ancestors
44
Q
Dual control model of sexuality
A
- Bancroft and Janssen’s work
- Theory that suggests that an individual’s sexual responses are influenced by the balance between neurobiological, environmental, and cultural processes that activate or suppress sexual response
- Basically neurobiological impulses, excitement or inhibition
- During times of crisis sexual response is repressed
- There are gender differences in response
45
Q
Sociological theory
A
- Highlights the importance of social institutions such as religion and family
- Institutions determine how sexuality is defined and expressed with a given society
- Sex is linked to the societal structures of power, kinship, and ideology
46
Q
Social script theory
A
- Indicates that social interactions are made easy and predictable because we follow culturally predefined patterns of behaviour
47
Q
Traditional sexual script
A
- Sociocultural expectations of how people should behave in sexual situations that become internalized into mental stories of how events should unfold and who should play that role
- Ex: You go from kissing to touching to oral sex to intercourse
48
Q
Ecological model
A
- Framework used to understand how personal, relationships, and environmental factors interact and influence an individual and each other
- There are four levels (macro, exo, meso, micro)
49
Q
Feminist theories
A
- Inequities between males and females are reflected in male-female relationships
- “Typical” sexual behaviour, such as the focus on vaginal intercourse and male pleasure, is an agenda reflecting male privilege
50
Q
Cultural Diversity
A
- Theories help us understand differences in sexuality across various cultures
- Social institutions such as the family and the law dictate how sex expressed
- Quebec has highest rates of common-law unions in Canada
